St Peter and St Paul – Peter’s Pence

This Sunday is the transferred Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul. This feast is not only the celebration of the twin apostolic foundations on which the Church of Rome is founded, but it is also our annual opportunity to donate directly towards the charitable work of our Holy Father Pope Francis through the retiring collection “Peter’s Pence”. As you will be aware, Pope Francis is very active in giving aid to the poor and homeless of Rome and to those around the world who find themselves in dire need. Please be as generous as you can.

Pope’s Prayer Intention for July

This month, Pope Francis invites us to join with him in praying for the pastoral care of the sick: “Let us pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may grant the Lord’s strength to those who receive it and to their loved ones, and that it may become for everyone an ever more visible sign of compassion and hope.” To watch a short video of this prayer intention being introduced by the Holy Father himself, go to www.thepopevideo.org/.

Coffee Mornings

Please put the following Coffee Morning dates to raise funds for the internal fixtures of the rebuilt St James into your diaries:

• Wednesday 24 July, 10.00am-12noon, Monika and David, Holmelea, 7 Blundells Avenue, Tiverton, EX16 4DL.

• Saturday 10 August, 10.00am-12noon, Margaret and Sarah, Stylehurst, Ashley, Tiverton, EX16 5PA.

St John’s School Starmaker Production

St John’s Starmakers will be performing ‘The Jungle Book’ at the New Hall on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 July at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £6 and will be on sale after 10.00am Mass at St James’ this Sunday (cash only please) or can be reserved by emailing cfitton@stjohnstiverton.co.uk for collection on the door. Please include in your email which night you would like to come to and how many tickets you require. Starmakers always put on a fabulous show so please go along and support the children if you can.

St James and St Boniface Youth Club

The next meeting of the St James and St Boniface Youth Club will take place this coming Saturday 6 July, 11.00am-12.30pm, at St Boniface’s Hall, Cullompton. The Club is open to youngster aged 9-14.

Adult Formation Day

On Saturday 20 July, 10.30am-4.00pm, in the hall at St James, there will be an Adult Formation Day. Two guest speakers, Fr Michael Barrow SJ and Revd Jane Frost will explore the theme of “Risk, Adventure, Vocation”. All welcome.

Diocese of Plymouth Summer Camps 2024

Applications are now being taken for places at the Plymouth Diocese Catechetical Summer Camps at Grangehurst, Buckfast Abbey. Three: Junior Camp (Years 3-6, 4-8 August), Senior Camp (Years 7-10, 28 July-2 August) and St Petroc’s Camp (Years 11-12, 31 July-2 August). Summer Camps are a great opportunity to meet other young people in the Diocese and to get to know each other through games, quiz nights, treasure hunts, days out and much more! For further information, see the leaflet in church, contact summercamps@prcdtr.org.uk, or speak to Siobhan Gilroy or Canon Kristian.

The Cross of the Moment

Recently a Clergy and Survivor Encounter took place in our diocese, where survivors of child sexual abuse came to speak to some of our clergy about their experiences and to offer them guidance about how they can help to support survivors in their ministry. Subsequently, the survivors who led the day shared a report called ‘The Cross of the Moment’ from Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies.  The report has been compiled following a 4-year study that listened to survivors of child sexual abuse and others affected by this across the Catholic community.  It identifies aspects of Catholic culture that are implicated in how abuse happened and how the responses to reports of abuse often lack compassion.  This report contains information that will be of interest to those within the Catholic community besides the clergy, and a full copy can be downloaded directly from the university website: https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/research/boundary-breaking-/. A Summary of the Report is attached to the Newsletter.

Vacancy for a New Parish Secretary

The Diocese is recruiting for a Parish Secretary for St James and St Boniface, Mid Devon – 16 hours per week, Tuesday-Friday, based at The Presbytery, 40 Old Road, Tiverton – to manage the administrative and secretarial support to ensure the smooth running of the parish and to enable the parish priest to carry out his diocesan responsibilities. Closing date 1 July 2024. For more information about both roles and to obtain a full job description, please visit the careers page on the Diocese of Plymouth website. To apply, please send your application form and covering letter to recruitment@prcdtr.org.uk.

Lay Dominican South West Regional Day

Any Catholics in our diocese who may be interested in joining the Lay Dominicans, or simply wish to find out who they are and what they are about, are very warmly invited to the Lay Dominican South West Regional Day which will be held on Saturday 20 July, 10.00am—5.00pm, at the Church of Our Lady and the Angels, Saltash. The day will include a talk from Fr Thomas-Thérèse Mannion OP, National Promoter of the Lay Dominicans. Registration is not strictly necessary, but it would help for organisational purposes. If you would like to register or receive further information, contact Geraldine on geraldinetaylor2016@hotmail.com. Light refreshments will be provided, and please bring a packed lunch. The event is free, but donations would be welcome.